One of the easiest epistles to understand because it's not doctrinal. But probably the hardest epistle to accept as it's a practical book, difficult to do. We are far more inclined in the comfort of a classroom as students/spectators rather than to be laborers. This practical aspect is the 24/7 part of our lives. James or Jacob, is the half-brother of Jesus, real child of Joseph & Mary. He didn’t believe in Jesus in his early life but later became a firm believer & martyr for Jesus.  It's called a letter but in a sense seems to be a bunch of advice from James to The 12 Tribes scattered. A lot of wisdom came from Proverbs & The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ practical teachings.   May these bless you & hope that your Christianity is not all doctrines but doctrines that work. Be a man of faith, humble, going out helping the helpless. James is not a book liked, but a book ignored by most churches. This shows you your God who works, Christ who served the poor & went out day by day. What a wonderful world this would be if we all reflected this God.